Thrift stores aren’t anything new, but over the past few years, the popularity for thrifting has exploded. This is partly due to people’s desire to not only look unique and save money, but also to protect the planet from the harmful effects of the fast-fashion industry. Thrifting is an excellent way to create new and interesting wardrobes, to decorate your home on a budget, and to give items a whole new life.
Whether you’re just beginning or have been thrifting for years, these useful tips will help you make smart decisions when out hunting for forgotten treasures:
Set a Budget
As with any kind of shopping, setting a budget before you go is vital. The rush of exchanging your hard-earned money for something else fades quickly, especially when you get home and realize you’ve overspent. Fortunately, one of the many highlights of thrift shopping is the knocked-down price. Secondhand items tend to be much cheaper than their brand-new counterparts, but that doesn’t mean you should allow yourself to spend more than usual.
Challenge yourself to stick to your budget, and you’ll soon see just how much you can find without spending loads of money.
Decontextualize
It might be difficult to imagine that shirt or those chairs as anything other than pre-loved relics. Take the time to give the items a chance to impress you – perhaps outside of the thrift store context, you’ll see their true potential.
Avoid expecting pieces to jump out at you straight away and instead use your imagination to place these items into your life to see how they fit.
Protect Your Home
Part of the appeal of thrift items is the price and the unique nature of having something no longer sold in mainstream stores. However, there are a few small risks that come with bringing clothes and furniture into your home when they’ve had a previous life. Fur, faux fur, and even plush toys are excellent places for ticks and fleas to hitchhike into your home, and both wooden furniture and clothing may have lice, or worse, bedbugs.
Always check and clean your items before bringing them into your home. When it comes to bedbugs, spray your new items with a bedbug spray, if they can be washed, wash them in hot water, then spray them.
If you think it might be too late and you’ve already brought these kinds of items indoors, seek the assistance of Moxie Pest Control to help you eradicate pests from your home.
Learn New Skills
Not everything you find at the thrift store will be in mint condition and that’s fine. Teach yourself new skills to mend and even elaborate upon the items that you find. For example, you can learn how to sew in order to stitch together a frayed seam. You could learn woodworking so as to treat and care for your wooden furniture.
By having these types of handy skills at your disposal, you’ll broaden your choice when out searching for bargains. If you don’t want to learn a new skill, or you simply don’t have the space to do so, consider hiring a talented person to do it for you.
Upcycling is a very popular way to turn thrifted items into a priceless piece.
Return Regularly
Thrift stores aren’t restocked in the same way that other stores are. They rely on donations and, therefore, it’s a great idea not only to donate items yourself but also to return frequently in order to see the new stock. It’s extremely unlikely that you’ll find repeated items, which makes it all the more exciting.
Read More:
- The Best Places to Go Thrift Shopping in Bushwick, Brooklyn
- Thrifting 101: Never Spend More than $5 on a Skirt Again!
- Broke Fashion: This Thrift Pro Has Some Great Advice for You!
Have you ever gone thrifting? Let us know in the comments below!
